Trey Parker (born October 19, 1969) is an American screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is most known for co-creating, alongside Matt Stone, the animated comedy series South Park (1997– ) and the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon (2011). Parker and Stone met while in college and began working on their first full-length collaboration, the movie Cannibal!: The Musical (1993). In 1997, Comedy Central agreed to air a half-hour program based on their short film The Spirit of Christmas , titled South Park . Parker also branched out into live-action film, writing, directing, and starring in the comedy Orgazmo (1997).

What is Trey Parker best known for creating?

Trey Parker is an American screenwriter, actor, and producer, most known as the co-creator, alongside Matt Stone, of the animated comedy series South Park (1997– ) and the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon (2011). South Park , set in a fictional Colorado town, revolves around four grade-school boys and is known for its controversial and taboo subjects. Parker and Stone write, direct, and edit each episode, and voice the characters. The Book of Mormon is a satirical musical about LDS missionaries in Uganda.

Which major roles does Trey Parker have in his projects?

Trey Parker is an American screenwriter, actor, and producer, widely recognized as the co-creator of the animated comedy series South Park and the musical The Book of Mormon . Parker's major roles include: * Screenwriter He co-wrote early South Park episodes and later took over primary script-writing duties. * Actor Parker voiced many characters in South Park . He also starred in the comedy Orgazmo . * Producer Parker is also a producer for South Park and The Book of Mormon .

How did Trey Parker get started in television and movies?

Trey Parker began his career in television and film through his collaborations with Matt Stone, whom he met at the University of Colorado. Together, they created a short animated film called The Spirit of Christmas in 1992, which featured foul-mouthed boys. A TV executive took notice and suggested they remake the film, which led to one of the Internet’s earliest viral videos in 1995. This success led Comedy Central to create a half-hour program based on the short called South Park , which debuted in 1997. Parker and Stone co-wrote the early episodes, with Parker later taking on primary script-writing duties, and voiced many of the characters.

What are some other movies or shows Trey Parker has worked on besides South Park?

Trey Parker, the American screenwriter, actor, and producer best known for South Park , has worked on other movies and shows, including Cannibal!: The Musical (1993), which he created with Matt Stone while still in college. Parker branched out into live-action film with Orgazmo (1997), which he wrote, directed, and starred in. Parker also collaborated with Stone on the short-lived television show That’s My Bush! (2001) and the film Team America: World Police (2004), for which Parker wrote and performed most of the soundtrack.

How has Trey Parker influenced comedy and animation in America?

Trey Parker has significantly impacted American comedy and animation through his subversive and satirical works. With Matt Stone, he cocreated the animated series South Park , which debuted in 1997 and quickly gained attention for its dark humor, profanity, and willingness to tackle controversial topics. Parker's work often uses pop-culture references, slapstick, and shock value. Parker also co-wrote the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon , which won multiple Tony Awards.

Trey Parker

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Andrew Rannells, dressed as a missionary in a white shirt and black tie, stands smiling with his arm raised next to a performer in camouflage and sunglasses during The Book of Mormon musical on stage.

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Byname of:: Randolph Severn Parker III

Born:: October 19, 1969, Conifer, Colorado, U.S. (age 57)

Awards And Honors:: Tony Awards; Emmy Award (2013); Emmy Award (2009); Emmy Award (2008); Emmy Award (2007); Emmy Award (2005)

Notable Works:: “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut”; “South Park”; “The Book of Mormon”

On the Web:: Fresh Air Archive - Matt Stone (Oct. 17, 2026)

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*South Park* Animated characters from *South Park* (front, from left): Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny.

Trey Parker

American screenwriter, actor, and producer

Also known as: Randolph Severn Parker III

Written by

Melissa Albert

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Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 15, 2026 •History

Top Questions

Who is Trey Parker?
Trey Parker (born October 19, 1969) is an American screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is most known for co-creating, alongside Matt Stone, the animated comedy series South Park (1997– ) and the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon (2011). Parker and Stone met while in college and began working on their first full-length collaboration, the movie Cannibal!: The Musical (1993). In 1997, Comedy Central agreed to air a half-hour program based on their short film The Spirit of Christmas, titled South Park. Parker also branched out into live-action film, writing, directing, and starring in the comedy Orgazmo (1997).
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1. Trey Parker
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What is Trey Parker best known for creating?
Trey Parker is an American screenwriter, actor, and producer, most known as the co-creator, alongside Matt Stone, of the animated comedy series South Park (1997– ) and the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon (2011). South Park, set in a fictional Colorado town, revolves around four grade-school boys and is known for its controversial and taboo subjects. Parker and Stone write, direct, and edit each episode, and voice the characters. The Book of Mormon is a satirical musical about LDS missionaries in Uganda.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Which major roles does Trey Parker have in his projects?
Trey Parker is an American screenwriter, actor, and producer, widely recognized as the co-creator of the animated comedy series South Park and the musical The Book of Mormon.

Parker's major roles include:
* Screenwriter He co-wrote early South Park episodes and later took over primary script-writing duties.
* Actor Parker voiced many characters in South Park. He also starred in the comedy Orgazmo.
* Producer Parker is also a producer for South Park and The Book of Mormon.
2 Britannica Sources
1. The Book of Mormon: History and development
2. Trey Parker
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Trey Parker get started in television and movies?
Trey Parker began his career in television and film through his collaborations with Matt Stone, whom he met at the University of Colorado. Together, they created a short animated film called The Spirit of Christmas in 1992, which featured foul-mouthed boys.

A TV executive took notice and suggested they remake the film, which led to one of the Internet’s earliest viral videos in 1995. This success led Comedy Central to create a half-hour program based on the short called South Park, which debuted in 1997. Parker and Stone co-wrote the early episodes, with Parker later taking on primary script-writing duties, and voiced many of the characters.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some other movies or shows Trey Parker has worked on besides South Park?
Trey Parker, the American screenwriter, actor, and producer best known for South Park, has worked on other movies and shows, including Cannibal!: The Musical (1993), which he created with Matt Stone while still in college. Parker branched out into live-action film with Orgazmo (1997), which he wrote, directed, and starred in. Parker also collaborated with Stone on the short-lived television show That’s My Bush! (2001) and the film Team America: World Police (2004), for which Parker wrote and performed most of the soundtrack.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Trey Parker
2. Matt Stone
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How has Trey Parker influenced comedy and animation in America?
Trey Parker has significantly impacted American comedy and animation through his subversive and satirical works. With Matt Stone, he cocreated the animated series South Park, which debuted in 1997 and quickly gained attention for its dark humor, profanity, and willingness to tackle controversial topics. Parker's work often uses pop-culture references, slapstick, and shock value.

Parker also co-wrote the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon, which won multiple Tony Awards.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Trey Parker
2. South Park
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Trey Parker (born October 19, 1969, Conifer, Colorado, U.S.) is an American screenwriter, actor, and producer, best known as the cocreator, with Matt Stone, of the subversive animated comedy series South Park (1997– ) and the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon (2011).

Parker grew up in small-town Colorado. While in high school, he and a friend released a comedy musical album, Immature: A Collection of Love Ballads for the ’80s Man. He went on to study at the Berklee College of Music, later transferring to the University of Colorado in Boulder. There he met fellow student Matt Stone, an art and math major with whom he shared an interest in film. The two began working on their first full-length collaboration, the movie Cannibal!: The Musical (1993), while still attending school.

In 1992 Parker and Stone created the short animated film The Spirit of Christmas, which featured four foulmouthed boys and an irreverent portrayal of Jesus Christ. It caught the attention of a television executive, who suggested they remake it. That version, released in 1995, became one of the Internet’s earliest viral videos. Its popularity spurred television network Comedy Central to agree in 1997 to air a half-hour program based on the short. Titled South Park, it depicted a quartet of crudely animated grade-schoolers growing up in the small-minded, perpetually wintry town of South Park, Colorado. Parker and Stone cowrote the early episodes (Parker later took over primary script-writing duties) and voiced many of the characters.

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South Park debuted on August 13, 1997, and was an immediate sensation. Featuring absurdist plot twists, casual profanity, and a skewed take on adult topics, the show attracted millions of viewers, a huge amount of critical attention, and the censure of, for example, religious organizations. Within five months of its debut, it was the highest-rated program on Comedy Central. Parker and Stone received their first Emmy Award nomination for the show’s fourth episode, which bore a typically inflammatory title, “Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride.”

Parker branched out into live-action film with the comedy Orgazmo (1997), which he wrote, directed, and starred in, appearing as a Mormon who stumbles upon a career as an adult-film star. In 1998 he starred with Stone in BASEketball, and the following year they released a full-length South Park film. South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut featured a number of songs cowritten by Parker, including the Academy Award-nominated “Blame Canada.” He also collaborated with Stone on the short-lived television show That’s My Bush! (2001) and the film Team America: World Police (2004), for which Parker wrote and performed most of the sound track.

Meanwhile, South Park continued to draw accolades well into its run, receiving five Emmys for outstanding animated program (2005, 2007–09, 2013). Its creators also continued to court controversy, as with a 2005 episode skewering Scientology that led to the departure of cast member Isaac Hayes, a Scientologist. In 2006, after Comedy Central refused to air a cartoon depiction of the Prophet Muhammad—which many Muslims would have considered offensive—a scene intended to feature the Prophet was replaced by a message on a blank screen: “Comedy Central has refused to broadcast an image of Muhammad on their network.” Parker and Stone again pressed the issue in 2010, when an episode depicted Muhammad wearing a bear suit that masked his identity.

Together with songwriter Robert Lopez, the Parker and Stone later wrote the satirical musical The Book of Mormon (2011), about LDS missionaries in Uganda. The Broadway production, which Parker codirected, received numerous Tony Awards, including best musical. Additionally, its original cast album won a Grammy Award in 2012.

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